Pagoda Palace Theater demolished

The Pagoda Palace Theater in North Beach became a symbol of all that is right and wrong about San Francisco. It began life in 1907 as a vaudeville theater and was transformed into a movie palace in the '20s. After that it was a little bit of everything, from the home of a hippie-era performance troupe to a showcase for kung fu movies. Twenty years ago it was abandoned, after which it took on its most infamous role, as a graffiti gallery, pigeon sanctuary and all-around civic eyesore. It was also the subject of intense land use disputes, neighborhood activism and political shenanigans. On Tuesday, after all the promises, deals and lawsuits, the Pagoda was leveled to create a site for the extraction of the boring machines for the Central Subway - and set off the next round of public bickering. This time it is over a proposed extension of the subway and possible station where the Pagoda once stood.

The Pagoda Palace Theater, which has been an abandoned building in North Beach for 20 years, is demolished on August 20. Early Tuesday morning workers using a machine nicknamed "The Muncher'' to bite off the iconic blade-shaped sign at the top of the structure. Work continues the rest of the week.

The Pagoda Palace Theater, which has been an abandoned building in North Beach for 20 years, is demolished on August 20. Early Tuesday morning workers using a machine nicknamed "The Muncher'' to bite off the

The Pagoda Palace Theater, which has been an abandoned building in North Beach for 20 years, is demolished on August 20. Early Tuesday morning workers using a machine nicknamed "The Muncher'' to bite off the iconic blade-shaped sign at the top of the structure. Work continues the rest of the week.

The Pagoda Palace Theater, which has been an abandoned building in North Beach for 20 years, is demolished on August 20. Early Tuesday morning workers using a machine nicknamed "The Muncher'' to bite off the